Thursday, April 24, 2008

Cyber-Launch Book Party for ARMED & MAGICAL

This is it! Welcome to the Cyber-Launch Book Party for Lisa Shearin's second Fantasy novel, ARMED & MAGICAL! Do be careful. The goblins look like Chippendale dancers, but they do have fangs. Also, the trolls are a little cranky at having to get up so early this morning.

Lisa's in a bit of a jam, which Susan Grant once told me is called 'Deadline Hell.' So, I swiped a Lisa Shearin interview from her page at Penguin. If you want to read my review of ARMED & MAGICAL, click on Lisa Shearin's name in the directory. All things Lisa Shearin can be found there! ARMED & MAGICAL hits the bookstores Tuesday, April 29th.

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Now, sit back and enjoy the Penguin interview:.

A Q&A with Lisa Shearin, author of Armed and Magical

.Armed & Magical is set in a traditional fantasy world, replete with elves and goblins. But what's so refreshing about your novel is the first person narrator, Raine Benares, an elven sorceress. Raine has *attitude*! Why did you decide to put a heroine with contemporary sensibilities in a Tolkien-esque world of swords, horses, and magic?

.Anyone looking at my bookshelves can see that I love genre fiction: fantasy, detective, action adventure, mystery, romantic comedy, crime capers, and political thrillers. I think that over the years they all just sort of merged in my head and Raine Benares and her world was the result. I simply wrote the type of books I wanted to read, but couldn't quite find. Well, that and Raine didn't give me a choice.

.Mixing contemporary sensibilities with traditional fantasy was a hard line to walk. I resisted doing it for as long as I could, but I finally gave in. Raine's voice just wouldn't be forced into traditional “fantasy speak,” and third-person was out of the question—Raine let me know that in no uncertain terms from day one. Once I started writing in first-person, I immediately found her voice, and I really knew I was on to something when my other characters started coming out of the woodwork as if they heard their cue to come on stage..Armed & Magical also has a romantic element, with Raine juggling the attentions of Mychael, a handsome elven spellsinger, and Tam, a sexy goblin. I think we've all seen Orlando Bloom as Legolas enough to understand the appeal of an elf, but a goblin is an unusual choice for a love interest. Can you tell us more about your goblins? How are they different from the traditional ones?

.I wanted to do something different with my elves and goblins. I have two finished manuscripts in my office closet that I consider practice books for what I'm writing now. In those books, I went with the more traditional idea of elves. In fact, the character that eventually became Raine was an elf princess, of all things. Knowing Raine now, I look back on that and it cracks me up. When I started writing Magic Lost, Trouble Found, I decided that not only should Raine be non-royal, she should be from a family of criminals, and she has to work for a living. No hoity-toity elves for me (at least not for Raine and her cousin Phaelan). However, there will be a hoity-toity, pure-blood, high-elf mage in Armed & Magical, named Carnades Silvanus.

.And as to my goblins—most of the goblins in books that I'd read were short, gnarled, and had a bad case of post-nasal drip. Again, I wanted to do something different. I asked myself why couldn't goblins be gorgeous? Why couldn't they be tall, lean, silvery skinned, and wicked sexy? And while I was at it, I thought fangs and long black hair would be a nice touch. (Heck, they don't call it “fantasy” for nothing.) My goblins are just your basic dark-eyed, smooth-talking, dangerous bad boys who you probably wouldn't take home to meet the parents..You and your husband are members of a fencing club; no doubt this real world experience is very helpful when writing novels set in a place where swordplay is the norm! How has your knowledge of fencing made its way into the books? Do you and your husband block out fight scenes together?

.Since I've begun writing Raine's adventures, unfortunately I haven't had the time to get back into the fencing gym. But I have five years of fencing experience to fall back on (my Olympic weapons of choice are the foil and epee). And while I was working on the manuscript that would become Magic Lost, Trouble Found, I took private rapier and dagger lessons, and took a lot of notes for future book use. My fencing coach, Wes Caudill, helped me block out the fight scene in the first chapter of Magic Lost, Trouble Found, and is always available for any and all of my combat-related questions.

.Like Raine, I like to be creative in my fighting style. Though unlike Raine, I've never used a rose bush branch as an offhand weapon. I prefer the more traditional offhand weapons: a dagger, a second rapier (fighting with a pair of rapiers is also known as a “case” of rapiers or Florentine style), a dueling cloak (though I never quite got the hang of that), but what was just too much fun was a rapier and a bullwhip. Yep, you heard me right. Believe me, nothing distracts an opponent like a six-foot whip wrapping around their blade. Hmmm, a bullwhip. That sounds like a weapon Raine would like..Going back to Armed & Magical, can you give us any hints about what's next for Raine Benares?

.The action in Armed & Magical picks up a week after Magic Lost, Trouble Found ends. Needless to say, Raine isn't going to catch up on her sleep anytime soon. By the end of page three, Raine's already got big problems—an assassination attempt on the archmagus, an encounter with an enemy from her past, and an entirely too public display of her Saghred-enhanced powers. Later, Tam has not one, but two, deep dark secrets from his past that he'd rather keep buried. (Of course they don't stay that way.) Piaras is now a Conclave college student studying spellsinging, and that voice of his attracts way too much of the wrong kind of attention. Mychael has his hands full with Raine, and with trying to keep her from falling prey to the darkest side of the Saghred. Let the fun continue!

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*End of Penguin Interview*

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Lisa just got back from the Romantic Times Convention in Pittsburg. Here she is at her table-

Doesn't she look hot in red? Bet her husband thought so! To learn more about Lisa and her books, pop over to http://www.lisashearin.com/

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On with the party! I got into a major fight with my Happy Helpers, Junior (redhead) and Angelica (Kick-Butt Heroine-in-Training) over music. Naturally, I wanted Weird Al and his hit single, Weasel-Stomping Day.

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However, I was shouted down and now Soulja Boy is in the party room, rocking out. I hope they don't mind getting yanked into an alternate reality. Be sure to click on the link below to watch their music video and buy their album! They really are awesome!.

And now I shall wave my fairy wand and zap you through the Transdimensional Vortex Chamber! Watch your step and please be respectful of my younger friends (the under-18 crowd.) Remember, if you want to be entered into the drawing for signed copies of MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND and ARMED & MAGICAL, and related goodies, your comment must be linked to a working email. Thankyou!.Zzzzzzap!

65 comments:

“Oh, good grief, I never get these shindigs cleaned up and ready to go on time. Oh, well, this is Lisa’s second Cyber-Launch. She’ll probably understand.” Kimber An stands in the middle of the party room with clipboard in hand. “Angelica! Pop over to the Lord of the Rings universe and bring back some elves.”

Angelica snaps a mock salute. “Aye-aye, Oh Captain My Captain!”

Kimber watches her march through the Transdimensional Vortex Chamber. “I swear she’s going to sprain something one of these days doing that.”

Junior stomps out of the shadows with mop and bucket in hands. “Well, I’m finished cleaning the trolls’ bathroom and I hate you!”

“Why do I always have to get the goblins?” Junior whines and stomps off.

Kimber yells after her. “Because I’ll tell your mommy on you if you don’t!” She studies her clipboard. “Hmmm, the shipment from the Intergalactic Bar & Grill isn’t here yet, but I think the Super-Turbo Coffee Maker is…”

(Lisa runs in with her husband’s laptop under her arm. Her laptop went kaput at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Pittsburgh last week.)

Thank you, Gwyneth!

Kimber An, hon -- this author needs some coffee and some of your world-famous, tribble-sized muffins. Are they out of the oven yet? I brought a cup of my own brew to get me started. I'll be over at the corner table. There's a plug over there, right? I'm on deadline for Raine's third adventure -- The Trouble With Demons. If anyone wants to sit and visit for a while with me, just come on over to my "desk away from home." ; ) I’ll be only too glad to take a break.

Ok, I swung by my old hometown of Phoenix on my way to Alaska and snagged some some chips and salsa. Watch the salsa--it makes good jet fuel too! Angelica might want to swipe some; I know that the price of jet fuel is through the roof.

Now I think I'll hover over Lisa and watch her type like an annoying little sister.

Thanks Linnea!!! I can't wait to get back together with you and Stacey, either. Perhaps in that beach writers retreat. Jeez, I love that idea. I'm up to my wazoo in deadline, and then there's the Book Release Party next Tuesday night at the B&N in Durham, NC. And yep, I will be wearing that flawless purple taffeta blouse you "twisted my arm" to make me buy.; )

"Hi, Linnea!" Kimber waves, but a banging sound keeps her from bringing over a tray of coffee and muffins. She sees the cave trolls trying to get through the door. "Oh, no! I told you guys, you're too big for the party room. Now, get your butts back down to the beach. And stop clubbing the rancors and asteroid worms over the head."

A pale-faced female with wires sticking out of her steps up. "We are Borg. You will be assimulated."

"Yeah, yeah, maybe later." Kimber hands her a coffee cup. She finds a goblin waiter near the bar. "Who keeps letting the Sci-Fi people in?"

Meanwhile, someone's cranked up the music and it's shaking the chandeliers.

Did someone say music? For a medieval party, we'll need a lute, a lyre, a tin whistle and a bodhran. Unfortunately, none of those instruments get very loud, so we'll just hook 'em up with pickups and crank up the volume.

I brought Noodle Kugel. Lisa, I bought your book the other day and devoured it last night. Yum!! I want more! How in the world is Raine going to get free of the Saghred and can it be destroyed? How is she going to choose between Tam and Mychael? Questions, questions....Jenny

Kimber An is serving drinks from a tray. Suddenly, a mummy's head comes flying through the air and lands right in the middle of her shot-glasses, splashing brandy all over Gandalf. She looks to see one of her own characters, Delano, has swiped Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber and is battling Darth Vader. She groans.

Meanwhile, a headless mummy staggers around, still smoking from the top.

Kimber sets down her tray a little too hard. The rest of the brandy douses a Ringwraith. She picks up the mummy's head and tosses it back. "Sorry about that, Bob."

I'll be heading off to my internship soon, though it pains me to leave such an awesome party. I'll be dancing all the way there (can't dance once I'm there, people don't like it when you dance around cabinets full of ancient pottery).

Once again, congrats to Lisa on writing yet another amazing book. Can't wait for everyone to read it so the discussions can begin!

In addition to hot gobins, there are no hoity-toity elves in my books -- well, with the exception of a character in Armed & Magical -- Carnades Silvanus, a high-born, pure-blood elven mage. You guys will have to let me know what you think about him. ; )

Hey, is there a party going on somewhere around here? Kimber An, thanks for having us over. I brought some warm artichoke dip and crackers- where should I put them? Now, where's Lisa? Congratulations on a terrific book, Lisa, I'm ready for #3! Keep those magic fingers moving!

Hey Laurie! I'm not sitting in the corner slaving over a hot laptop just because I got a deadline hanging like a hatchet over my head. I most definitely DO NOT dance. Tam's friends have been trying all evening. Un-uh. No one wants to see that. ; )

Lisa, did you bring Raine and the gang with you or are they wreaking havoc on Mid? I'd like to see Tam's silver skin. Do you suppose I can meet him? And then of course, Mychael needs equal time! Maybe I can find them battling the Khrynsani somewhere...Tam? Mychael?

"Yeah," says Junior. "Sorry I didn't find a goblin, but Yoda makes a pretty good leprachon. Don't you think?"

Kimber rubs the space between her eyes. "I'm sorry, Lisa. I've been tryin' and tryin' to teach my characters the difference between Science Fiction and Fantasy, but it just ain't workin'. Probably doesn't help that I'm often confused myself. Could you possibly get Raine and Tam and Mychael to explain things?"

It is now 7:02 p.m. Alaska Time and the drawing is closed. Once the winner is picked and notified, I'll post an announcement.

Thanks to all who came and especially to Lisa for another great adventure novel! You can party through the night if you want, but I'm putting my littluns to bed now. Following time-honored mothering tradition, I shall collapse in exhaustion directly thereafter. Sweet dreams. ;)